Similarities and Differences Between the Form of Social Influences
Abstract
Conformity, peer pressure and obedience are an on-going issue in almost every society. This essay looks into three areas of social influences, namely: conformity (which involves changing ones thoughts or behaviours to align with someone else’s), compliance (which involves changing behaviour due to requests made by someone) and obedience (which involves a change in behaviour in response to another’s order). The purpose of the essay is to look at the similarities and differences between the forms of social influence, particularly looking at the factors that influence each of them. It concludes that two of the forms of social influence: obedience and compliance are very similar, while conformity displays numerous differences.
Each day individuals are blasted by countless attempts by others to influence them, and therefore the study of social influence has long been a central topic for social psychology. Social influence is the process by which attitudes, perceptions and behaviours can be affected by the real or implied presence of others (Kassim et al. 2002). Conformity, compliance, and obedience are all different forms of social influence which strongly affects ones behaviour/attitudes and decisions in a social situation. All three, share a number of similarities and differences between them.
Conformity
Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit social norms. Crutchfield (1993) simply defined conformity as “yielding to group pressures”. Conformity can run very deep, changing one’s private beliefs and values to be like those of their peers and admired superiors.
Several experiments have shown, when challenged by social norms, individuals will often adjust to the opinions and behaviours to those around them. This is demonstrated in the classic study carried out be Asch (1951). His study involved participants performing a perception task, stating out loud which of the selection of lines matched the
Conformity, peer pressure and obedience are an on-going issue in almost every society. This essay looks into three areas of social influences, namely: conformity (which involves changing ones thoughts or behaviours to align with someone else’s), compliance (which involves changing behaviour due to requests made by someone) and obedience (which involves a change in behaviour in response to another’s order). The purpose of the essay is to look at the similarities and differences between the forms of social influence, particularly looking at the factors that influence each of them. It concludes that two of the forms of social influence: obedience and compliance are very similar, while conformity displays numerous differences.
Each day individuals are blasted by countless attempts by others to influence them, and therefore the study of social influence has long been a central topic for social psychology. Social influence is the process by which attitudes, perceptions and behaviours can be affected by the real or implied presence of others (Kassim et al. 2002). Conformity, compliance, and obedience are all different forms of social influence which strongly affects ones behaviour/attitudes and decisions in a social situation. All three, share a number of similarities and differences between them.
Conformity
Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit social norms. Crutchfield (1993) simply defined conformity as “yielding to group pressures”. Conformity can run very deep, changing one’s private beliefs and values to be like those of their peers and admired superiors.
Several experiments have shown, when challenged by social norms, individuals will often adjust to the opinions and behaviours to those around them. This is demonstrated in the classic study carried out be Asch (1951). His study involved participants performing a perception task, stating out loud which of the selection of lines matched the